Trap



March 29, 1938. E. A. THlBoDEAUx 2,112,796

TRAP

Filed Aug. 4, 1937 2 SheetSI-Sheet l March 29, 1938. I E; A. THrBoDr-:A'Ux

TRAP

Filed Aug. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m d m m. M

Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFIcE i' Ernest A. Thibodeaux, Houma, La.

Application August 4, 1937, Serial No. 157,388

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a new and improved trap intended primarily for catching muskrats and minks, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive, relatively light, safe and humane trap which will be highly eflicient and durable, will almost instantly kill, and will not injure the pelt.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a top plan View showing the trap in set position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing a number of the trap parts disassembled.

A preferred construction has been illustrated in the drawings and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

I provide a horizontally elongated base plate Ill preferably of rectangular form, to the ends of which two transverse strips II are secured by rivets or the like I2, said strips projecting laterally beyond one longitudinal edge of said base plate and having their outer ends bent upwardly to provide an outer pair of posts I3, the upper ends of said posts being bent to provide knuckles I4, in the present disclosure. Two additional transverse strips I5 and I5 are secured by rivets or the like I6 to the base plate IB, said strips being in spaced parallel relation with each other and in similar relation with the strips I I. The ends of both strips I5 and I5 project laterally beyond both longitudinal edges of the base plate I and are bent upwardly to provide the strip I5 with lugs I1 and the strip I5 with lugs I1. To the laterally projecting portions of the strips II, inner posts I8 are secured b-y rivets or the like I9.

Two upwardly and inwardly swingable, springactuated, U-shaped jaws 28 and 23 are provided, the jaw 2E) being pivoted at the free ends of its side arms to the lugs I1 by means of a suitable pivot rod or the like 2 I. The jaw 20 is similarly pivoted by a rod or the like 2 I to the lugs I1. When the jaws are in set position, the side arms thereof toward the posts I3 and I8 are disposed between these posts, the actuating springs 22 and 22 of the jaws being then so tensioned as to be capable of forcibly swinging said jaws upwardly and inwardly to operative position, when such jaw movement is permitted.

A U-shaped jaw-holding member 23 extends between and is pivoted to the upper ends ofthe outer posts I3, and in the present disclosure, the side arms 24 of said U-shaped member 23 are provided with openings 25 through which a pivot rod 26 passes, theends of said rod being held in the knuckles I4. wardly over the adjacent armsv of the jaws 2B and' 20' to hold said jaws in set position, and the entire member 23 is held in operative position, by means of a trigger plate 21. This trigger plate extends between and is pivoted to the'inner posts I8, said plate being engageable with. the free ends of the arms 24 to releasably holdthe latter in operative position. In the construction herein disclosed, the trigger plate 21 is provided with downwardly projecting lugs 29 disposed at the inner sides of the posts I8, and the ends of a centrally depressed pivot rod 30 are passed through openings in said lugs and posts, the depressed portion of said pivot rod extending under the strips I and I5. If desired, each post I8 may be provid-ed with two vertically spaced openings 3E with either one of which the rod 30 may be engaged, to dispose the trigger plate 21 at a relatively high position or a comparatively low position. When the rod 30 is in the uppermost of the openings 3I the set jaws will not be as low as when said rod is engaged with the lowermost of said openings, and consequently, the springs 22 and 22 will not be under such severe tension, and it is obviously advantageous to be able to adjust the trap in this manner according to the kind of animalsto be caught.

To set the trap, the jaws and 20 are swung downwardly and outwardly and the jaw-holding member 23 is so swung that its side arms 24 overlie the adjacent side arms of said jaws, the trigger Cil The arms 24 areswingable downl plate 21 being then swung to the position in which it overlies the free ends of said arms 24, the jaws being then released while holding the trigger plate in its operative position. When the trigger plate is depressed and released by an animal, it releases the jaw-holding member 23 which then swings to a position outside of the zone in which the jaws are operable, allowing upward and inward swinging of these jaws under the tension of the springs 22 and 22 to catch and almost instantly kill the animal, without injury to the pelt and with minimum pain to the catch. It is not necessary to position the trap in any particular manner when setting it as it will operate regardless of the direction from which the animal approaches. Moreover, it is not necessary that the trap be chained or otherwise fastened, for the prey is killed before he Lcan drag the trap any appreciable distance. The device is simple, inexpensive, light, easy to set, eilicient and durable and is preferably constructed in the manner herein disclosed, attention being again invited, however, to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: l

1. A trap comprising a base, two upwardly and inwardly swingable spring-actuated U- shaped jaws pivoted upon said base on parallel axes, a U-shaped jaw-holding member pivoted upon said base on an axis transverse to the pivotal axes of said U-shaped jaws, the pivotal axis of said U-shaped jaw-holding member being transverse to the side armsof this Imember and 1 being disposed outside of the zone in which said U-shaped jaws are movable, said side arms `of 'said U-shaped jaw-fholding member being downwardly swingable over the adjacent side arms of said YU-shaped jaws to `hold the latter in set position, and a trigger plate pivoted -upon said -base yon an axis parallel with said pivotal axis of said U-,shaped jaw-holding member, saidtrig- ,vger plate and its pivotal axis being disposed with- :intheiconnes 'of said .U-shaped jaws when the 1 llatter are in set position, said trigger plate being jaws are movable.

2. A trapcomprising .an elongated base plate,

two transverse strips secured to the ends of said base plate respectively and projectinglaterallybeyond one longitudinal edge of said base plate, the outer ends of said strips being bent upwardly to provide an outer pair of posts, an inner pair of posts secured to and projecting upwardly from the laterally projecting portions of said strips, two additional transverse strips secured to said base plate in spaced parallel relation with each other vand with the iirstmentioned strips, said yadditional strips projecting laterally beyond both longitudinal edges of said base-plate and having their ends bent upwardly to form lugs, two upwardly and inwardly swingable spring-actuated '1J-shaped jaws, the side arms of one of said U- shaped jaws being pivoted `to the lugs of one of said additional strips, and the side arms of the othervof said U-shaped jaws being pivoted to the lugsy ofthefother of said additional strips, a jawholding member extending between and pivoted vtothe posts of the aforesaid outer pair, saidjawholding member being downwardly swingable lover the adjacent'side arms of said U-shaped jaws to `holdrthe latter in set position, and a trigger plate extending between and pivoted to the postsof said inner pair, said trigger plate and the posts to which it is pivoted being within the .confines of said '1U-shaped jaws When the latter vare inset position, said trigger plate being -engageable vwith said jaw-holding member to re- -leasably hold the `latter in operative position, said jaw-holding member when in released position andthe posts to which it ispivoted being outside the zone in which said jaws are movable.

ERNEST A. THIBODEAUX. 

